Straw-case-making machine.



W5. VN DEN HEUVEL @L P. Wi. MKS.

.sm/wv cAss MAKING MACHINE,

. APPLICATION FILED IUNE 2, 1915A 3l 9QQQJQ., Patente N627., ZTL mi?.

3 SHEETS-SHEET www@ NI. VAN DEN HEUVEL c P. NI. DIKS'.

STRAW CASE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1915.

l mw Patented NW. 27, 1917?.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

38u n m/g'j y 3@ N- VAN'DEN HEUVEL 6k P. M. DIKS.

STRAW CASE MAKING MACHINE. nP PLxc/\TIN man JUNE 2. 1915.

- l www@ Nw., im., s SHEETS-SHEET s.

mou@ V Vm :@V V V@ @V V 45 V A 57 5 mcMm/g mura smarts MATHYS VAN :DEN HEUVEL AND PETRUS MARTINUS DIKS, OF UDEN, NETHERLANDS.

STRAW-CASE-MAKING MACHINE.

Application filed .T une 2, 1915.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, MATHYS VAN DEN `Hnovm. and PETRUS MAnTINUs DIKS, subjects of the Queen of the Netherlands, residing at Uden, Province of Noord Brabant, Netherlands, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Straw-Case-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention consists in improvements in continuous folding and feed devices for straw-case-making machines.

Machines hitherto used for the manufacture of straw cases, usually have a single folding device arranged next to the strawcase-making machine proper, the said device folding the straw to be treated to the dimension required, whereupon it is introduced by hand into the straw-case-making machine in which it is subjected to further treatment. This process is, however, complicated and takes up a great deal of time, as the attendant has first to give attention to the folding of the straw in the folding device, and afterward to the introduction of the straw into the machine in correct position and at the proper point.

In other known machines, the folding and the making of the straw into a case are both effected in the same device. The straw which is pushed by hand into a so-called filling frame, is pushed by the said fillin frame, which reciprocates in a horizonta plane, into that portion of the machine where it is converted into a straw case. The empty filling frame thereupon returns to its initial position, is again filled with straw, whereupon the same process is repeated.

The return to the origina-l position in the devices at present used, is eected either under the action of a weight, or by means of an endless chain or the like. It is obvious that this reciprocation of the filling frame in the machine is unfavorable to a large output of the device, as during the time occupied by the travel, the machine could be filled again, and the attendant is forced to wait until the filling frame has returned to the original position, before straw can again be introduced into the machine.

In the device according` to this invention the capacity of the straw-case-making machine is increased in a simple manner. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov.. 2?, 19N?.

Serial No. 81,779.

filling frame, in which the straw is also folded before treatment merely feeds the folded straw to the machine, instead of participating in the movement which the straw executes in the machine. After the filling of the frame, it ispvertically lowered to a slight extent, which results in the straw contained in the frame, being seized by the teeth or points of a conveyer chain and con- As soon as the frame has been thus emptied, 1t is automativeyed to the machine.

cally returned to the highest position and can be charged again, w iereupon it again executes a limited downward travel, and its contents are seized by the conveyer chain. ln this way, a much larger number -of charges can be supplied in a given period of time, so that the output of the machine is increased.

A construction of the device according to this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a front elevation, partly in section, of a straw-case-making machine provided with a feed device according to the invention. VOnly the most important parts of the straw-case-making machine proper are shown.

Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same device.

Fig. a is a transverse sectional view of the frame above referred to, together with the driving device for the straw to bel treated.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal detail sectional view of the frame shown in Fig. 4, to gether with accessories, at the moment when it is in its lowest position in which the chain seizes the straw and brings it into the machine.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 5, the frame being shown in its highest position in which therefore it can be filled again.

Fig. is a plan of the device shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the cover of the frame being shown, open.

rlhe`straw-case-making machine shown in Fig. l comprises a frame l to which is secured the mechanism converting the straw supplied into cases and consisting chiefly of a cylinder Q, about which the straws are moved parallel to its axis, while needles 4C vertically adjustable through the openings 3 of the hollow cylinder, cooperate in the known manner with a slide 5 longitudinally movable in the cylinder parallel to its axis; wires from the supply spools, introduced at one end into the cylinder 2, are carried by the said needles 4.

The needles are arranged on the upper surface of a frame (i vertically movable under the cylinder in vertical guides and drivenV upward from the main driving spindle of the device, while the downward movement takes place under the action of gravity.

The direction of movement of the straw to be treated is normal to the axis of the cylinder, the straws lying parallel to the axis of the cylinder.

From the feed device hereinafter more fully described, the straws pass over a horizontal guide surface 7 to the cylinder. The straw first passes under the cylinder 2 whereupon it passes through several circular brackets S surrounding the cylinder at the desired distance and forcingl the straw to travel around the cylinder 2, after it has been sewn together to form a kind of matting by the needles passing through the openings 3 at the lower surface of the cylinder.

ln thatl way, the beginning of each mattingformed in the manner described, is twisted with vits end in such a manner that a cylinder-shaped case is produced, which, after it has been moved laterally, away from the cylinder, is tied at one end and is then ready for use. In order to press the straw firmly against the cylinder during its movement arms 9 are used which are pivoted or hinged to a spindle 10 and provided with a resilient part or holder 11. The part or holder 11 is provided with teeth 12 used for pressing the straw against the cylinder. Moreover, the upper surface of the frame 6, to which the needles e are secured is provided with drivers or lower cooperating holders 13 cooperating with the arms 9 and also pressing more firmly the strawy which is around the cylinder. The supply of straw to the machine is effected by means of a number of endless chains 14 arranged side by side and provided on their upper surface with teeth 15, each of the said chains passing over two chain wheels 1G and 17 keyed to spindles 18 and 19 rotatable in bearings 20, 20 or 21, 51 secured to the frame 1. The chain wheels are driven from the driving shaft 22 arranged in the lower part of the frame. The upper portionof the chains is guided between the chain wheels in U-shaped guides 23, the sides of which are so high that only the points of the teeth project above them and seize the straw. The upper surface of the chain is situated in the plane of the guide surface 7 for the straw. According to spindles 18 and 19.

the invention, between the two chain wheel spindles 1S and 19 is arranged a vertically adjustable filling frame 2l consisting of an open frame for affording passage to the con veyer chain 14. rlhe said frame can be driven in any desired manner from the main driving spindle 22 or from one of the 1n the construction shown in the drawing, the frame is moved by a system of levers hereinafter more fully described.

The working` of the filling frame itself is as follows:-

The filling /is effected by hand, at the moment when the frame is in its highest position. 1n the open position of the cover 25 rotatable about the hinges 41 (Fig. 7), the straws are laid on the filling frame parallel to the axis of the cylinder 2 and so that the said frame, as well as the opened -cover, is completely covered. Thereupon in the center, transversely of the strawA and over it, is `placed a so-called folding knife resting against a fixed blade 26 and the cover isjclosed by means of a handle 42 provided for the purpose, whereupon the folding knife can be withdrawn from the machine in the direction normal to the spindle 30. The folding knife referred to is not shown in the drawings, the said device being well known in this art. it consists of a simple bar knife preferablyhaving the forni of a ruler and is placed on the stretched strands of straw, the straw being folded about the knife by closing the cover 2. After this latter operation ensues, the knife which rests against the blade 26 is withdrawn from the machine by hand. Y

All the strands of straw will therefore be folded upon themselves, the fold being at the side which subsequently forms the opening of the case. The filling frame thereupon descends automatically to such an extent that the points 15 on the links of the chain le, which at that moment are situated unde-r the frame, engage with the straw and carry the contents of the lling frame to the cylinder 2, where it is subjected to the action just described. As soon as the contents are completely removed from the frame, the latter automatically returns to its highest position and thus out of reach of the chains 14, so that a new filling can take place.

The attendant must keep time. with the machine, as the filling Vof the frame must be at'the four corners with downwardly ex!A tending arms 27. The four lower ends of the arms 27 'are hinged to levers 28 and 29. The levers 28 and 29 rotate about the same Spindle 30 and make such an oscillating movement that the filling frame 24 is vertically reciprocated. The pivot points of the arms 27 on the levers 28 or 29 are given the play required for this movement.` The levers 28 which are one-armed, are pivoted to the spindle 30. rPhe levers 29, which have intermediate angular deflections, are hinged at one end to the arms 27 at the right hand side of the lling frame. At the end shown on the left in the drawing, all the levers are provided with tappets 31 and 32 coperating with cam disks 33 provided on the chain wheelspindle 18. These cam disks drive the four corners of the frame continuously up and down by means of the levers 28 and 29.

In the constructions shown in Figs. 5-7, there are only two cam disks on the spindle, and both levers 28 are keyed to the spindle 30 rotatable in the machine frame, while the levers 29 are connected to a sleeve rotatable on the spindle 30.

The cam disks are of such a shape that the downward movement of the filling frame takes place suddenly, while the upward movement is gradual.

The conveyer chain comprises, as usual, a series of links provided with teeth 35, and a series of links without teeth, as the corresponding part of the chain is not required for conveying the straw.

In the device according to this invention there is between each series a so-called clamping member 36 provided with teeth 37 having curved forward edges, the said teeth 37 being in planes at right angles to the members 36. The forward curved edges of the teeth 37 provide for gathering up and pressing the straw toward the cylinder while the said cylinder is coperating with the straw, but preventing the straw from being dragged away in view of the curved edges which permit the straw to readily pass over the teeth as the conveyer chain continues to move. In other words, the teeth 37 with their front curved edges provide means for gathering up the straw and pushing it toward the cylinder to insure the formation of the cases as compact as possible.

The device is constructed so that, at the moment when the filling frame is suddenly lowered, one of the toothed parts of the chain is situated under the filling frame, so that the straw is pressed down to these teeth and withdrawn by the chain from the filling frame 24C or pushed forward. As soon as the straw leaves the filling frame, it is depressed by means of spring blades 40 pro vided on guides 39, so that the straw arrives under the cylinder 2 in the form of a compact mat. The guides 39 are arranged at definite distances apart on a bracket 38 extending throughout the whole width of the guide surface for the straw.

The use of the improved folding and feeding device according to this invention enables the work to be done much more quickly than by the devices hitherto used for the purpose, as the filling frame has to execute merely a limited vertical reciprocation for the purpose of delivering the straw to a conveyer chain, whereupon the filling frame is at once filled again.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a folding and feeding device for straw-case-making machines, the combination with a filling frame adapted to reciprocate vertically, of toothed conveying chains beneath said frame, a spindle beneath the frame, a set of single-armed levers connected to two corners of the frame and pivoted to the spindle, a set of angularly deflected levers connected to the other two corners of the frame and also pivoted to the spindle, and rotating cam disks engaging the free ends of said levers whereby the frame is reciprocated vertically parallel to itself.

2. In a folding and feeding device for straw-case-making machines, the combination with a filling frame, of conveyer chains having driving teeth and arranged beneath said frame, spindles and chain-wheels carrying said chains, a spindle beneath the frame1 levers pivoted to said spindle and connected to the frame, and Cain-disks secured to one of the chain carrying spindles and adapted to engage the free ends of said levers to reciprocate the frame vertically.

3. In a device of the class specified, the

combination with a rotatable cylinder and a filling frame, of means for reciprocating the said filling frame vertically and imparting thereto a comparatively rapid lowering movement and a slower upward movement,

and conveyer chains movable under the said filling frame and cylinder and comprising groups of links provided with pointed teeth, links in rear of the links having the pointed teeth and provided with rearwardly inclined teeth for giving the straw charges as fed to the cylinder an equal thickness and requisite fullness, and groups of links without teeth between the groups having pointed teeth and those having rearwardly inclined teeth.

t. In a straw case making machine, a case former, guide means spaced from said former and cooperating therewith in shaping the case, and a filling frame for feeding straw between said former and guide means and provided with devices for reciprocating the same at intervals.

5. In a straw case making machine, a case former, guide means spaced from said former and coperating therewith in shaping the case, stitching mechanism for bind- EL3() ing the straw in sheet form as the latter is set our hands in presence of two subscribing fed to the former, and a flhng' frame for Wltnesses.

feeding straw between the sad'fornler and MATHYS VAN DEN HEUVEL. guide means and provided with devices for PETRUS MARTINUS DIKS. regularly reciprocating the same at nter- Vitnesses: Vals. THOMAS H. 'VERI-IAVE,

In testimony 'whereof We have hereunto J. J. HELSDON RIX.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner ofrPatents,

Washington, D. C. 

